Folding machine



E. N. NECKEL FOLDING MACHINE 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet iled Nov.

INVENTOR EDUND N. NECKEL J 7% fines Y5 @ct. 24, 1Q3. I E N NECKEL 2,177,262

FOLDING MACHINE Filed N0). 27, 1936 5 Shets-Sheet 2 FlG.-3

ENVENTOR EDMUND N. NECKEL 24, 1939. E. N. NECKEL I 2,177,262

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 s t -sh t 5 EDMUND N. NECKEL 0d. 24, 1939. E. N. NECKEL FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EDMUND N.

KT ORNEY:

NECKEL Oct. 24, 1939. E. N. NECKEL FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2'7, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-20 FIG-l7 1 I T 7 a INVENTOR EDMUND N. NECKEL a 5%; E AT TORfiEYz Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE FOLDING MACHINE Application November 27, 1936, Serial No. 113,046

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding machines and deals more particularly with V the type of machine for folding fabric articles such as towels, pillow slips, and the like. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel folding apparatus for producing a plurality of folds in an article passing through the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide mechanism for producing a plurality of folds which occur in timed relation to the passage of the article through the machine and in which the initiation of the operation of the folding mechanisms occurs simultaneously and automatically upon a portion of the article passing a certain point in its travel through the machine. My invention also includes novel operating and control mechanisms for producing the novel results above set forth, including novel arrangemerits of the folding blades and actuating mechanisms therefor, novel adjusting means for adapting the mechanism to handle various length articles, novel guiding and speed controlling means operable upon the article as it passes through the machine, all as described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings and defined in the appended claims.

My invention also includes novel features in a stacking mechanism for receiving articles from the folding machine and arranging them in stacked relation, but claims to this stacking mechanism will be found in a divisional application.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my folding and stacking mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental side elevation,

the side panels of the housing being removed to expose the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, showing the arrangement of the drive;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental section taken on the line 6--5 of Fig. 3, showing a portion of the folding blade operating mechanism;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmental side elevation of the mechanism for controlling the cross folding operations, the mechanism here being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the mechanism during operation and just prior to the production of the second cross fold;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmental detail view of 5 the drive for the first cross fold rollers taken from a position indicated by the line l0|ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental view in elevation taken on the line H--ll of Fig. 3, certain parts being 10 shown in section;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of a stacking mechanism showing the side opposite to that 15 shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of the stacking mechanism;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of one of the mercury switches and its associated 20 parts taken on the line |5l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the stacking mechanism taken on the line Iii-I6 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line l'i|l of Fig. 3; 25

Fig. 18 is a view taken from the left side of the mechanism of Fig. 17, parts of the mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line l9-I9 of Fig. 18; 30

Fig. 20 is a profile of the teeth of the clutch members; and

Fig. 21 is a diagram of the wiring circuit for the machine.

The machine illustrated comprises a general 35 framework having longitudinally extending base members 25, uprights 26, and top longitudinally. extending frame members 2'! which slope downwardly from the feed end of the machine at an angle of approximately 15 to the horizontal. All 40 of these are rigidly fastened together and suitably cross braced to form a supporting structure for the rest of the mechanism. Supported on the members 21 are table plates 28 and 29 along which an article to be folded is adapted to 45 slide. The portion of table plate 28 toward the front or feed end of the machine overhangs the forward end of the framework where it slopes downwardly toward the operator to provide for easier feeding operations. 0

Conveyor belts assist in the feeding of articles to the folding machine and in the conveyance of the article over the table plate 28. These belts comprise a central belt 30 passing around an idler pulley 3| suitably supported at the feed 55 end of the machine and at its other end passing about a roller 32 rigidly mounted on shaft 33 by which the roller is driven so as to drive belt 30. The lower run of belt 30 is supported on an idler pulley 3 3. Side conveyor belts 35 pass about the pulley or roller 3! and along the upper surface of the forward sloping portion of plate 28 until they reach the crown of the conveyor, at which point these belts pass down through slots in plate 28 and about idler rollers 36 from whence they return to roller 3|. the conveyor has a cover plate 3? for guiding articles over the crown and for preventing them" falling back on the downwardly sloping forward portion of the feed belts. This crown plate is supported at one end on bracket 38 secured to the frame and at its forward end rests on the side guide and shield plates 39.

The drive for shaft 33 and roller 32 is, best seen in Figs. 3 and 5. Motor so mounted in the lower part of the frame drives pulley 4| which by means of belt d2 drives a pulley 43 on cross shaft Ml. This latter shaft is suitably supported in brackets on the frame. Another pulley 45 rotatable with shaft 44 is connected by means of belt with pulley a? which is rigidly fastened to shaft 43 which is a second cross shaft suitably iournalled in brackets on the frame. A sprocket d3 rotatable with shaft 48 is connected by drive chain 513 with sprocket 5i on shaft 33. As an article is carried by belt 33 downwardly along plate 28, the right hand longitudinally extending side edge as viewed in Fig. l is first engaged by a folding plate 52, supported by bracket 53, which folds the right longitudinal third of the article over upon the central third thereof. This fold is prevented from engaging the central third of the article by being folded over upon a separating plate 54 which is secured to bracket 38 and rides at its other end upon the article moving along the conveyor belt. As the article progresses along the conveyor the left hand longitudinal edge as viewed in Fig. 1 engages folding plate 55 which is formed in such a manner as to fold the left longitudinal third of the article over upon the already once folded article. Folding plate 55 is supported by bracket 53. Plate 54 ends substantially at bracket 56 permitting the two lower layers of the article to come in contact. A second separating plate 5i supported at one end by bracket 53 extends downwardly along the conveyor in position to rest upon the two lower layers of the article and to hold the upper or left third of the article out of contact with the two lower layers until the article reaches roll 32-. A third plate 58 in the nature of a riding plate is connected at its up- Der end to bracket 56 and at its lower end rides upon the twice folded article. These plates 54, 57 and 53 also serve to maintain the article in frictional contact-with belt 30 during the passage over plate 23.

V For forming the first cross fold in the article it is fed past roller 32 onto table plate 28 and thereafter a folding blade 59 engages the article at a point determined by a previous manual setting and feeds a portion of the article downwardly between roll 32 and roll Gil which is parallel thereto and driven at the same speed. This roll 63 is carried by shaft 5i which, together with shaft 33, is mounted in suitable bearing brackets 62, that on the far side of the machine being shown in Fig. 10. Gear 63 rigid with shaft 33 engages gear 65 rigid with shaft Bi and the teeth of these gears are arranged to permit a The crown portion of slight amount of relative separating movement between them while retaining the teeth in mesh.

This relative separating movement is necessaryto accommodate a folded article passing between rollers 32 and 6B. To permit such movement shaft 6! is movable in a slot 65 in bracket 32. Shaft 65 is biased toward shaft 33 by a spring 66 secured to a collar on shaft 6! at one end and to the frame of the machine at its other end. As best seen in Fig. 6, longitudinally extending guide strips 6? are secured to the side portions of the frame just above plate 23 to limit the Width of the longitudinally folded article. After the article has passed between rollers 32 and 69 it is flattened out to the desired dimension.

After the article leaves the first set of cross folding rollers 32 and 33 it passes into a pair of vertically alined chutes 38 and 39 which are held in position by suitable frame members it- These chutes are spaced to provide an opening between them at H where the article may be engaged by a second cross fold blade 12 when it reaches the proper position.

Means is provided for controlling the speed and position of the article moving through chute 38 so that it reaches the opening H at substantially a definitely timed period after leaving the first set of cross folding rollers. It is obvious that the article would fall rapidly through the chute 68 unless its passage therethrough were retarded and in so doing the article might get out of vertical position or might become wrinkled or distorted. The means provided at this point is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 11 and 12. A set of rollers 13 is rigidly mounted on a shaft M which is supported at its opposite ends in a pair of levers 15 which are pivotally mounted at 35a in the frame members 'iil. Shaft it is guided for substantially horizontal movement in slots E3 in the frame members it and is biased toward chute 88 by springs l7, one end of which is secured to collars on shaft l4 and the other endsecured to the frame. The rollers 13 normally enter through slots Eta in the front wall of chute 32 as shown in Fig. 12 so as to engage an article passing through the chute and hold it against the rear wall of the chute. Shaft lid may be oscillated to relieve the pressure of rollers 53 against an article in the chute in timed relation to the movement of blade l2. To this end blade 12 as shown in Fig. 11 is provided with blocks 18 which are adapted to engage rollers i517 on the lower end of levers 75 as blade '52 moves in fold producing direction. This causes the upper end of levers it to move in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 and temporarily holds the rOllers l3 out of engagement with the article in chute 68. Rollers 13 are given the same peripheral speed as the conveyor belt has passing over roller 32. This is accomplished by arranging a suitable drive sprocket 19 on shaft 33 which is connectedby drive chain 83 with sprocket 8! on shaft 14.

Each of the cross folding blades 59 and i2 is biased in folding direction by spring means and the operation of these. blades during their folding action is controlled by a pair of cams arranged to produce operation of blade 2 a predetermined time after blade 53 depending upon the setting of the cams by the operator. The cams are adapted to be connected to a constantly rotating shaft by means of a one-revolution clutch device and the operation of the clutch device is initiated upon the leading edge of the article passing along table 29 passing a suitable trip device. This mechanism will now be described. Y

. Blade 59 is supported on arms 82 (Figs. 3 and 6) which are fixed to shaft 83 suitably mounted on bearings 83a and 83b. An adjusting screw 84 limits the movement of blade 59 toward the bite of the rolls and a projection 85 limits the movement of the blade away from the rolls. Rigid with shaft 83 is an arm 96 which is pivotally connected to the arm 81a of a lever 81 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 99. The arm 87b of this lever carries a follower 89 which is adapted to engage a cam 99. Spring 9| connected between lever 86 and the frame biases blade 59 toward the .folding rolls and biases follower 89 toward the cam 99.

Foldingblade I2 is supported by arms 92 in What is substantially a parallel ruler arrangement so as to give blade I2 substantially a horizontal movement. Pivotally connected to one of the arms 92 is a link 93 having a slotted portion 93a through which passes shaft 94 so that this shaft guides the movement of link 93. A spring 95 secured between the end of link 93 and the frame biases link 93 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3. Rotatably mounted on link 93 is a follower 99 which engages cam 91 and is held in such engagement by spring 95.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 in connection with Fig. 3, the operation of the cams will be described. The shaft 94 is constantly rotated by means hereinafter described and a one revolution clutch arrangement is provided for coupling the cams for rotation with shaft 94 for a single rotation whenever an article passing through the machine is to be folded. Rotatably mounted on shaft 94 is a bushing 98 to which cams 99 and 97 are rigidlysecured by set screws 99a and 91a so that the two cams are rotatable as a unit but may be adjusted relative to each other to accommodate articles of various length in the machine. Rigidly secured to the end of shaft 94 is a ratchet gear 99. Projecting from the outer face of cam 99 is a pin I99 on which is rotatably mounted a pawl IIJI having one arm I9Ia carrying a projection I9Ib adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet gear 99. This arm I9Ia is biased toward gear 99 by a spring I92, one end of which is fixed to cam 99 and the other end of which is is engaged with a shoulder on lever I94 as shown in full lines in Fig. 7. This lever is pivotally mounted on the frame intermediate its ends and normally held in the full line position of Fig. 7 by a spring I95. A solenoid I98 when actuated moves the lever I 99 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 7. The control for solenoid I98 is a lightsensitive cell !99 positioned adjacent table plate 29, the operation of which will be later described.

Upon the movement of lever I 94 to the dotdash position of Fig. 7, pawl 101 is released whereupon it moves under the bias of spring I92 in a clockwise direction engaging the proiect on i with one of the teeth of the rotating gear 99, thereupon the cams 99 and 91 rotate in unison with the shaft 94. Follower 99 almost immediately passes along the depressed portion of cam 99 erroitting oscillation of lever 91 and arms 86 and 82 in a direction to produce folding action of blade 59 under the influence of spring 9|. Upon completion of this folding operation cam 99 again returns the parts to the position shown in Figs. 3 and '7. The rotation of shaft 99 and the two cams in Figs, 7 and 8 is in a clockwise direction.

When the parts have moved from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 8 follower 99 is just ready to engage the depressed portion of cam 91 permitting link 93 to be moved toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 under the influence of its spring 95. This will cause folding action of blade I2. The setting of the cams illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is for the maximum length article accommodated on the machine. Since the energization of solenoid I98 is instantaneous as will later appear, lever I94 returns to the position of Fig. 8 almost at once so that arm I9Ic engages against lever I94 upon completion of one revolution of the cams thus causing counterclockwise movement of pawl I9 I, disengaging projection I9I b from gear 99.

The operation of the blade I2 moves the article in gap TI between the folding rollers H9 and III. These rollers are rigid with shafts H2 and I I 3, respectively, which are suitably journalled in frame members I9. The bearings for shaft II 3 are slidable in slots 19a and biased upwardly by springs H4. The drive for these rollers is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. On shaft 94 a beveled gear H5 engages beveled gear II6 on shaft II! which extends longitudinally of the frame. At the other end of this shaft a beveled gear H8 engages beveled gear M9 which is rigid with a spur gear I29 on shaft II2. Gear I29 meshes with gear I2! on shaft H9.

The drive for shaft 94 is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising a sprocket I23 on shaft IIS connected by drive chain I24 with sprocket I25 on shaft 99.

Means is provided for conducting an article folded between rollers H9 and Ill out of the machine and to a stacking device if desired. This means comprises a belt I29 passing about roller III at the one end and about roller I 27 at the other end. This roller is rotatably mounted on shaft I28 which is carried in brackets I29 at the stacking end of the machine.

Means is provided for diverting an article cross folded once between rollers 92 and 69 directly onto the conveyor belt I26 when desired. This comprises a bypass chute I39 carried on arms I3I and I32 which in turn are pivotally mounted on frame members I9. Arms I9! are rigid with shaft I33 which is provided with a handle I34 by which the chute I39 may be moved from full line position of Fig. 3 to the dot-dash position thereof. In the dot-dash position the chute I39 enters within the walls of chute 69 as shown and will conduct an article directly from the first cross folding rollers to the conveyor When in its full line position, however, the bypass chute is clear of the chute 59 at the one end and provides clearance above conveyor belt I26 to permit articles to pass thereunder.

The energization of solenoid I98 is controlled by a light sensitive cell I99 as previously mentioned. The cell I99 is located below table plate 29 and in line with a slot 29a therein. Above the table is a light source 35 adapted to play upon cell I99 through the slot 29a. This slot and the support for members I99 and is arranged so that the position of these trip members may be adjusted along slot 29a to accommodate articles of different length. While folds may be produced in any desired position along the length 01 the article, I have chosen to illustrate my device as arranged to first cross fold the article passing over plates 29 and 29 in the middle thereof and to cross fold this article by blade I2 once again in the middle. It will be understood, however, that other folds are possible using this machine.

The control circuit for the light sensitive cell I69 and the solenoid I68 is shown in Fig. 21. Powerrneans LI, L2 and L3 are adapted to be connected by a switch I36 with suitable terminals of motor 46. Lines LI and L3 are connected by wires I31 and I38 respectively to the primary of transformer I39. Light source I35 is energized from lines I31 and I38 as shown. The secondary of transformer I39 is connected to the terminals I480; of a current rectifier I48. MI is a polarized relay having a coil I l la operating a contact member I411). The terminal I491) of the current rectifier is connected by wire 142 with the coil of power relay I43. Wire I44 leads from this coil to the terminal E of the polarized relay. The

terminals 1480 of the current rectifier are con-' nected by wire 146 with the terminal I41 of the polarized relay. Wire I48 connects this latter terminal with the fixed end of the contact member i4 127. Light sensitive cell I89 is connected by wires 549 and I56 with the terminals for the coil of the polarized relay.

The operation of the folding machine is as follows; An article is fed onto the belts 38 and 35 at the forward end of the machine. As it passes over plate 28 it is folded by the plates 52 and 55 longitudinally of the article as previously described. So long as the cell I69 is subjected to light from the source I35 the flow of current from the cell I69 is through wire I49 to the coil Mia and through wire I56 back to the cell. This causes a deflection of the contact member IMb toward the left which connects to the dead terminal 151. When the beam of light between the cell and the light source is intercepted by the article moving over the table 29 the flow of current from the cell I89 is interrupted and contact finger 14117 is moved to the right under the bias of spring I410. A circuit is then established from contacts I880 of the current rectifier through wires I46 and 168, contact finger I 4H7, terminal 195, wire led, the coil of power relay I43 and wire 592 back to the terminal I481) of the current rectifier. This energizes the power relay 143. Wire E52 supplies current from wire I31 to one of the terminals of the power relay. Vire I53 connects the other terminal of the power relay to solenoid 598, the other terminal of which is connected by wire 154 to the power line I38. Thus when the power relay I43 is energized the contact finger 143a thereof completes the circuit through solenoid 188, energizing it to trip the one-revolution clutch device previously described, thereupon the cams 98 and 91 start to rotate causing sequential operation of folding blades 59 and 12 as previously described. The setting of cam 91 is varied relative to the position of cam 98 so as to cause the operation of blade 12 at the'desired time interval after the operation of blade 59, at which time the article has reached the predetermined position at the opening 1! due to the controlled travel of the article through chute 68 under the influence of'rollers 13. The article after being thus twice cross-folded is carried by conveyor I26 out of the machine or to the stacking device.

The stacking mechanism is shown generally in Figs. 1 and 2 and in greater detail in Figs. 3' and 13 to 20 inclusive, and the wiring diagram of the control mechanism therefor is shown in Fig. 21. Articles to be stacked are delivered to the stacker by the conveyor I26 or' otherwise. Belts I55 carry the article to be stacked to proper position over the stacking plate I56. This plate has longitudinally extending slotted openings to accommodate the belts I55. The belts pass over rollers I51 on shaft I58 and about rollers I59 on shaft I68. Shaft I69 is rotated so as to rotate rollers l59 and so drive the belts I55. This drive may be arranged in any suitable manner but in the embodiment shown a sprocket I6I on shaft II3 of the folding mechanism is connected by drive chain I62, to sprocket I63 on shaft I28. Another sprocket I64 on this shaft is connected by drive chain I65 to sprocket I66 on shaft I68.

The shafts I58 and I69 are suitably journalled in.

brackets I61 which are secured to the main sup.- porting bracket I29. The stacker plate is provided with a downwardly extending stem I68 which passes through a suitable bore in bracket I29. Rod I69 on plate I56 also passes through a suitable bore in the supporting bracket for the purpose of guiding the vertical movement of. the stacker plate. .This movement of the stacker plate is caused by roller 168a on the stem I68 the fingers I56a may pass between the fingers- I15b without engaging the same. In the operation of the stacker mechanism an article is carried by belts I 55 over the stacker plate I56 which is actuated when the article is in proper position to lift the stacker plate, whereupon the upper surface of the article engages the fingers II5b and rotates the wing plates until the article has passed above the fingers I15b, whereupon the stacker, plate descends and the wing plates return to the position shown in Figs. 14 and 16 under the bias of springs I16 whereupon the article remains above the fingers I151). The stack is guided by the rods I11.

The actuating mechanism for operating the stacker plate is controlled by a mercury switch I18 located at the far end of the stacking machine. This switch is' rotatably mounted in a stop member I18 and carries suitable electric contacts normally in circuit-breaking position as shown in full lines in Fig. 15, but rotatable to complete the circuit when the switch is moved to the dot-dash position of Fig. 15. The switch has an arm I18a which is engageable by an article moving thereagainst as will be readily understood This completes a circuit as shownin Fig. 21 from line I38 through lines I19 and I80, switch I18 and line I8I to solenoid I82 and thence back through line I83 to line I31. The operating mechanism connected with the solenoid I82 is best seen in Figs. 13, 18, 19 and 20. Shaft I28 drives bevel gear I84 which meshes with bevel gear I85 on shaft I85. This is a short shaft suitably journaled in. the frame and carrying a clutch member I81 freely rotatable thereon. A coaoting clutch member I88 is mounted on shaft I86 for rotation therewith but for movement axially therealong. The mutually facing surfaces of clutch members I81 and I88 are supplied with serrated teeth as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Clutch member I88 is oscillated by means of a clutch yoke I89 which has a downwardly extending arm I 89a having a pin and slot connection with a link I 99 which inturn is connected by bellcrank IQI-and link I92 with solenoid I 82. A spring I99a engages between a collar on link I90 and the bifurcated lower. end of branch 3911 so as to take up the slack in the parts. A spring I93 normally biases the clutch members apart as shown in Figs. 3 and 19. A one-revolution clutch arrangement is provided as shown in Figs. 17 to 19 so as tocause one rotation of disk I81 each time solenoid I82 is energized. This mechanism will now be described. In the periphery of the disk I81 which includes one of the clutch members is a notch I 81a into which is adapted to enter a roller I94 which is secured to the branch I892) of the clutch yoke member. A link I95 has a slot I95a through which the shaft I86 passes I for the purpose of guiding the link. This link is pivotally connected with the branch I182) of the oscillating lever I previously mentioned which is a part of the actuating mechanism for lifting the stacker plate- A roller I96 is mounted on a pin carried by link I95. This roller is engaged by a cam I91 fastened to the disk I81 once during each revolution of the disk.

The operation of that part of the stacker mechanism thus far described is as follows: An article entering the stacker travels along the belts I55 until it engages the trip arm I18a of the mercury switch. and further travel of the article moves this switch to the dot-dash position of Fig. when the, article strikes the stop I18. As previously described this actuates solenoid I82 which causes upward movement of link I92, clockwise movement of bellcrank .I9I, movement of link I98 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 18, clockwise movement of clutch yoke I89 about its pivotal point which moves clutch member I 88 into engagement with clutch member I81. Shaft I86 through the engaged clutch then drives disk I81 which is free to rotate as the oscillation of member I89 has already withdrawn the roller I94 from the notch I81a. The solenoid I 82 does not remain energized throughout the rotation of disk I 91 but the engagement of roller I94 with the outer periphery of disk I81 holds the clutch engaged for one revolution. When cam I91 engages roller I99, link I95 is moved downwardly, thus oscillating the lever I19 and causing upward movement of stem I68 and stacker plate I58. Aftercam I91 passes roller I99 the spring I12 returns the stacker plate to its lowermost position.

- Means is provided for counting the articles stacked and varying the arrangement of the stacked pile of articles in a manner to indicate the number of articles in the pile. To this end an arrangement is provided whereby after a certain number of articles have been stacked the next article is placed in a slightly extending position so that it indicates a given number of stacked articles between each of the projecting articles. To this end means is provided for moving the stop member I18 out of the path of a moving article after a certain number of articles have been stacked, permitting the next article to move against a second stop member which actuates the stacker to place this particular article in projecting position in the stacked pile, after which the original stop member I18 returns to its position and the predetermined number of articles is stacked in the regular line previously established. This mechanism will now be described.

The stop member I19 is mounted on a support I 93 which in turn is slidably mounted on vertical pins I99 which are carried by the brackets I61. The member I98 is normally supported in the position shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 by the engagement of arm 298a of lever 299 beneath the shoulder I98a of the member I98. This lever is pivotally mounted on the frame at 29I and is held in the position illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 by spring 292. The'arm 28Gb of lever 299 is intermittently operated in accordance with a counting device. This counting device comprises a lever 2G3 pivotally mounted on the frame at 294 and carrying at one end a roller 295 adapted to be engaged by a projecting portion I150 of the stacker wing plate I15 at each operation thereof. The opposite arm of lever 293 is pivotally connected by link 295 with a ratchet lever 281 car rying the ratchet pawl 29111. A ratchet wheel 298 which is rotatably mounted on the frame carries on its periphery teeth adapted to coact with the pawl 291a. A detent 209 prevents retrograde movement of the wheel 298. A spring 2E9 holds the roller 295 in engagement with the projection I150 of the wing plate. On the wheel 288 is a cam 289a adapted to engage the arm 29% upon sufficient rotation of wheel 288 and thereby to cause movement of the arm 250a out of engagement with the shoulder I98a, at that time permitting the support member I98 of the stop member I18 to drop downwardly on the pins I99 so as to remove the stop member from the path or" the article passing through the stacker. The cam 298a is of such dimensions and so arranged that upon the movement of one tooth on the wheel 298, the cam passes out of engagement with the arm 2991) of the lever 289 so that the arm 28811. is held out of supporting relation with respect to the shoulder i38a only during the rotation of wheel 288 corresponding to one tooth. Upon the following actuation of the stacker plate the projecting arm I1 5 engages a portion I98b of the support member i98 and returns the stop member I18' to its uppermost position.

A second stop plate 2! I is provided outside of the stop plate I18 and similar thereto. This stop plate rotatably supports a mercury switch 2I2 in all respects similar to I18 and having a trip arm 2I2a adapted to be engaged by a moving article and rotated in a manner analogous to that described in connection with Fig. 15. This mercury switch 2I2 is connected in parallel with I18 as indicated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 2]. and connected by suitable wires 2E3 and 2M.

The operation of the last described mechanism is as follows: At each operation of the stacker plate, the wing plates I15 are oscillated and the projection I150 contacting roller 2G5 operates the pawl 291a to move the ratchet wheel 298 the distance of one tooth. Upon rotation of this wheel corresponding to a predetermined number of teeth, the cam 208a actuates lever out of supporting position below support member id?) for the stop plate I18. The next article moving through the stacker strikes the trip arm 2 I2a and rotates mercury switch 2 I2 until the article strikes the stop plate 2! I. This completes a circuit from line I38 through lines I19 and 2M and switch 2I2 and through this switch and lines M3 and IBI to the solenoid I82 which is thus energized, the circuit being completed through lines I83 and I31. The stacking mechanism is then actuated in exactly the same manner as occurs when mercury switch I 18 is oscillated as previously described. After this one article has been moved into the stack in projecting position, the stop member I18 returns to the position shown inFigs. 13, 1'4 and 15 and the operation of the stacker mechanism goes on as before.

In the embodiment shown, the drives for the folding machine, conveyor I26 and the stacking device are so interrelated that articles are fed to the stacker sufficiently spaced apart to permit the stacker plate to complete each stacking cycle between successive articles.

My improved combined folding and stacking apparatus may be placed at the delivery end of an ironing machine to receive ironed articles and to fold and stack the same Without the intervention of an operator. Articles may be fed to the ironing machine at unequally timed intervals and will be properly folded and stacked as both the folder and stacker are controlled by the presence of the article in proper position in the apparatus.

What I claim is:

1. Folding apparatus comprising means for feeding an article along a table, there being an opening through said table extending transversely to the direction of article feed, a device operating through said'opening for producing a crossfold in said article, a second device for producing a second cross-fold in said cross-folded article, cam means controlling the sequential operation of said devices, and means controlled by one of the end edges of said article as fed along said table for controlling said cam means.

2. Folding apparatus comprising means for feeding an article along a table, there being an opening through said table extending transversely to the direction of article feed, a blade operable through said opening for producing a cross-fold in said article, a second cross-folding blade, means for feeding an article from said first blade to folding position at said second blade at a predetermined speed, rotatable cam means having operative connections with each of said blades for controlling folding operation thereof during one rotation of said cam means, a continuously rotating shaft, a one-revolution clutch for connecting said cam means with said shaft, and means controlled by an end edge of an article moving along said table for causing operation of said clutch.

3. Folding apparatus as in claim 2 in which said cam means comprises one cam for controlling each folding blade, said cams being adjustable relative to each other and rotatable as a unit.

4. Folding apparatus comprising means for feeding an article along a table, "means folding said article along a line parallel to the direction of feed by movement of said article along said table, there being an opening through said table extending transversely'to the direction of article feed, a device operatingthrough said opening for producing a cross-fold in said article, a second device for producing a second cross-fold in said cross-folded article, cam means controlling the sequential operation of said devices, and means controlled by one of the end edges of said article as fed along said table for controlling said cam means.

5. Folding apparatus comprising means for feeding an article along a path, means for forming a first fold in said article'transversely to the direction of movement along said path, said last named means acting to move said article downwardly out of .said path, whereupon gravity acts to conduct said folded article to a second folding point, means for controlling the speed of said gravity produced movement, means for forming a second fold in said article when it reaches said second folding position, means controlled by one of the end edges of said article moving along said path for simultaneously initiating operation of each of said folding means, and means for delaying folding action of said section folding means until the article reaches said second folding point.

6. Folding apparatus comprising means for feeding an article along a path, means for forming a first fold in saidarticle transversely to the I direction of movement along said path, said last named means acting to move said article into a substantially vertical guide, means controlling the speed of movement of said article along said guide, means for forming a second fold in said article as it passes through said guide, cam means for controlling operation of said first and second folding means, and means controlled by one of the end edges of an article moving along said path for controlling operation of said cam means, there being a geared relation between said cam means and said speed controlling means, whereby said second folding means operates in a predetermined relationship to the position of said article in said guide.

7. Folding apparatus as in claim 6, including means for rendering inoperative said speed controlling means by operation of said second fold forming means.

EDMUND N. NECKEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,177,262. October 21;, 19 9.

EDMUND N. NECKEL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 6, second column, line 28, claim 5', for the word "section" read second; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this '5th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

